Leal earns Formula 1 superlicense

GP2 racer Julian Leal has earned his Formula 1 super license after driving the required 300km at the third in-season test at Silverstone.

Leal rounded out the runners as he tested for Caterham, finishing 7.3s slower than fastest driver Jules Bianchi.

Leal stopped due to a CU-H (the control unit of the MGU-H part of the Power Unit) failure at the end of his first lap, which meant he sat out most of the session.

"At the end of the session I’d completed 51 laps which, considering where we were mid-morning, I was quite happy with, especially as that takes us over the 300kms required to be eligible for a superlicence," he said.

"Obviously today wasn’t about times, it was about mileage, learning how to work with the team and start to understand how to maximise the performance of a 2014 F1 car, and I feel like I’ve made a good step with all of those.

"Now I want more and I can’t wait to have another chance to drive."

Caterham's other planned runner, Rio Haryanto, was unable to drive due to the time it took to repair the CT05.